Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights GIO Stadium, Sunday 3 July 2016 Kick Off 2:00pm 1. Jack Wighton 2. Brenko Lee 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Blake Austin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Junior Paulo 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Shannon Boyd 11. Josh Papalii 12. Elliot Whitehead 13. Luke Bateman Interchange: 14. Kurt Baptiste 15. Iosia Soliola 16. Paul Vaughan 17. Joseph Tapine 1. Dane Gagai 2. Nathan Ross 3. Sione Mata'utia 4. Peter Mata'utia 5. Brendan Elliott 6. Jack Cogger 7. Trent Hodkinson 8. Sam Mataora 9. Danny Levi 10. Korbin Sims 11. Jacob Saifiti 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Jeremy Smith Interchange: 14. Tyler Randell 15. Robbie Rochow 16. Daniel Saifiti 17. Mickey Paea 22. Josh King
See that is what's wrong with the mentality of the modern player. You're up by 22-0. In good field position. And you throw it over the sideline on second tackle. Why the fuck are you trying to score more points before half time, that early in the count? Theyve just invited Canberra back into it with that awful defence and lack of patience in attack.
And of course they praise Hodkinson. If he'd kicked it when he should've they would've won by now. Horrible game management by a bloke who has played rep footy.
After playing such good attacking footy they decide to try to defend their lead for the entire 2nd half... it's not like they've got anything to lose.
Raiders will probably end up making the top 4 but they hands down win the biggest underperformers award this year.
22-0 up. Defend like little boys for the next 30 minutes. Get in perfect position to kick a field goal with 10 to go to make it 7 in front but instead chip into the in-goal for a 7 tackle 20m restart. Concede a try. Let the Raiders go 60m and kick a FG. Then somehow manage to get into golden point, give away a penalty on first tackle. Somehow get a 20m restart, get in decent field position and give it to a flat-footed forward on 4th, shank the field goal attempt. Let the Raiders go 50m in three tackles, give them another field goal shot and let them score off the shanked attempt. Man, you can't teach that sort of utter stupidity and lack of ability.
For Knights fans surely this would have to be a more aggravating loss than past hidings. They gave hope with a 22-0 start but then clock off and shit the bed the rest of the game. Used to know what that was like as a Cows fan.
